Health

Strong & Lean- How Much Protein to Do You Really Need?

It seems like everywhere you turn, protein is being praised and promoted. Protein chips, protein pancakes, protein mac’n’cheese, protein peanut butter cups, the list goes on…. And of course, there is always the good ‘ole protein bar. While this macronutrient is vital to health, stamina and strength, most individuals don’t know how much they are getting OR if it’s enough. And with so many popular ways of eating- plant-based, paleo, keto- there are conflicting numbers and recommendations adding more confusion. Let’s clarify why you need this nutrient, how to make it work for you and where to get quality protein.

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Health

11 Healthy & Satisfying Snacks for the Family Road Trip

Snacks are a critical component of a healthy diet.  Allowing too long between meals invites cravings, impulse food decisions and can encourage us to eat quickly and too much when we do sit down for a meal.  However, the wrong type of snack can keep us munching on empty calories only to find we are still hungry.  When cooped up in the car for several hours, having some smart snacks ready for munching will help you avoid wrecking your nutrition plan before you even reach your destination…

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Health

Meal Prep Made Easy- Save Time, Energy & Money

What if you could up your game and get 1 more healthy dinner on the table each week?  Well, research shows that 3 family dinners each week increases fruit and vegetable consumption by 24%, reduces risky behaviors in kids (like drugs, early smoking) and helps kids improve grades and academic performance.  Just 3 meals?! What if you aimed for 4 or even 5?! September is National Family Meals month, an opportunity to get focussed on feeding and loving our families well while we sit around the dinner table.

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Smart Snacking- How to Make the Best Decision When Your Stomach is Growling

Pantry door open, my eyes browsed the items on the shelf until I found the quick and easy solution- granola.  Sweet, crunchy and easy to pour into my hand. It was early morning and my early bird newborn was hungry, but so was I.  Granola was a quick and easily accessible solution, but after I had consumed my third handful, I wondered why I didn’t choose a different option.  There was a slight bit of regret…

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No-Brainer Meal Plan Trick When Bored With Dinner

Do you feel like you make the same meal over and over? Join the club.  If you have kids and/or a busy life (ie. everyone) it is easy to gravitate towards making the same meals again and again.  And this is especially true if you are cooking at home- we make what we know how to make that is quick and easy. But that can get monotonous.  At least for some of us.  One real life experience helped me uncover a meal plan trick when bored with dinner without the hassle of making new recipes…

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Health

Easy Ways to Amp Up Nutrition in Everyday Meals

DID YOU KNOW… according to research, there are 9 critical nutrients Americans aged 2 and up UNDER-consume every day? That’s right, thousands of kids, teens, adults, and elderly aren’t getting enough nutrients to promote optimal health, wellness and energy.  Good health is about nourishing and fueling our bodies so that we feel and perform our best. And, it’s not as hard, expensive or complicated as we might think! You can amp up your nutrition with a few no-brainer tweaks.

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